Daily Archives: April 10, 2020

Shopping Tips from the California Grocers Association

We owe a debt of gratitude to our dedicated grocery workers who are working extra hours, away from their families to ensure our grocery stores are stocked and we have what we need.  

Widespread uncertainty has caused consumers to buy more than they need during this naturally stressful time.  But Californians can be confident that grocery stores will remain open and that food and essential supplies remain plentiful.

Buy Smart. Don’t Overfill Your Cart.

Next time you go shopping please buy only what you need for a week. There is no need to over buy. This will help stores catch up with the increased demand.

Here are tips to help ensure a safe shopping experience for everyone:

  1. Only visit the grocery store when it’s essential, and then buy only what you need for one week, or a little more.  Be creative with what you have on hand before going to the store and don’t overbuy. There is enough for all if we keep shopping patterns normal.
  2. Wash or disinfect your re-usable grocery bags after each use. For your safety, some grocers ask that you bag your groceries if using reusable bags, while others have decided to temporarily not allow reusable bags to be brought into their stores.
  3. Help reduce store crowding. Don’t bring extra people on your visit to the store if at all possible.
  4. Practice social distancing within the store. The CDC guideline is 6-feet – the safe distance to help prevent the spread of Coronavirus. An average grocery cart is 3-feet long, so keep a distance of two grocery carts between you and others.
  5. Inspect produce with your eyes, not your hands. To avoid unnecessary handling of fruits and vegetables use a produce bag to make your selection.
  6. Avoid unnecessary handling of all items in store. Try not to pick up cans or boxes or other products unless you plan to buy. Let your eyes guide your choice.
  7. Don’t crowd the checkstand.
    • Keep your distance from the person in front of you. As a courtesy, some grocers have marked the floors in and around the checkout area to assist you in keeping a safe distance.
    • Wait until the customer in front of you has finished collecting their groceries before unloading your groceries at the checkstand.
  8. Treat grocery employees with kindness. They are working hard to provide everyone with safe access to the food and supplies they need. Be patient as they go about their work including additional cleaning protocols and consider acknowledging them with a big “thank you”.
  9. Be aware of your store’s special hours or procedures. Many grocers are offering special shopping hours exclusively for seniors or other vulnerable populations. Check out your store’s website or call in advance.
  10. Allow for extra time. Some stores are queuing customers outside their main entrance to reduce crowding within the store.

Learn more at https://enoughforallca.com/.

Affordable Housing Grant Awarded to Goleta

In an effort to increase affordable housing in Goleta, the City applied for, and was awarded, $160,000 under the Senate Bill 2 (SB 2) Planning Grants Program. The State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) is authorized to provide up to $123 million under SB 2 Planning Grants Program (PGP) from the Building Homes and Jobs Trust Fund for assistance to counties and cities.

The Planning Grants Program reflects the state’s commitment to work in partnership with local governments to address California’s critical housing needs. Local governments are using the grant awards to accelerate housing production by streamlining the approval of affordable housing and promoting development consistent with the state’s planning priorities, among other related activities.

The grant funds provide an excellent opportunity for the City to implement the General Plan Housing Element affordable housing policy. Funding the development of affordable housing is a challenge in high land value communities such as Goleta. Utilizing grant funds to support the production of affordable housing is a critical step towards meeting the need.

Eco Friendly Crafts

We are currently amidst a challenge unlike few that we’ve faced. With normal routines halted and plans canceled, our focus has shifted to staying safe and healthy at home. Fortunately, this indoor down time allows us an opportunity to get creative and explore crafts that we don’t usually have time for in our busy schedules.

Starting a home garden is a great way to get outdoors, keep occupied and produce fruits and vegetables you can use to cook at home! You can even make your own compostable seedling pots from old newspaper or other recycled paper. All you need is some seeds, soil, paper, water and sun to get started.

How to make a seedling pot:

  • Fold a single page of newspaper sheet in half from bottom to top.
  • Fold it in half from side to side, make a crease, and then unfold. You only do this to get the crease.
  • The newspaper should be positioned so that the folded side is facing you. Next, fold the bottom left corner up towards the middle crease. You’re making a triangle with this fold, and one edge will completely touch the middle crease. Repeat this fold on the other side.
  • Take the top open edge of the newspaper (leave the bottom one where it is) and fold it to straight edge of the triangles you created in Step 4. You’ll see a rectangle on top of two triangles.
  • Flip the entire newspaper over.
  • Using the center crease as your guide, fold the side of the newspaper towards that middle crease. Repeat on the other side.
  • Fold the remaining unfolded edge of the newspaper in towards the middle. This will create a flap that you can tuck inside the pocket that has formed from the side folds you did in Step 7.
  • Find the inside of your shape and gently push the sides out.

The bottom will have a small triangle shape that you will need to fold so that it will sit flat. As you push the sides out, you’ll notice this small triangle piece doesn’t have a natural place to go. Simply use your fingers to fold it, making a small triangle on the bottom of your pot. Work with the folds and continue to press and mold the pot until it forms a square.

You can then fill your pot with moist soil or seed raising mix, plant your seeds, and set them in a sun exposed area indoors. Once they begin to sprout and you’re ready to plant, dig a hole in your garden deep enough to fit your pot, tear the outer corners of your paper pot to give your roots room to grow, and fill with soil. Make sure to water regularly and enjoy watching your plants flourish!

Workforce Homebuyers Program

Do you know about the Housing Trust Fund of Santa Barbara County’s Workforce Homebuyers Program? It provides low-to-middle income home buyers down payment loans, which enable them to secure conventional financing and removes financial barriers to the dream of home ownership by lowering home acquisition and carrying costs. The loans enable qualified working families and individuals to buy a home that provides a stable residence that strengthens the family and the neighborhood. The Workforce Homebuyer Program provides down payment loans up to $75,000 in Carpinteria and $100,000 in South Santa Barbara County.

Since its launch in fall 2017, the program has helped 11 first-time homebuyers purchase homes in Goleta, Santa Barbara, Noleta and Buellton. The workforce homebuyer loans enable employees to put down roots in a community and allows employers to attract and retain high quality employees that are vital for a thriving economy and vibrant communities. Learn more about the program here: https://www.sbhousingtrust.org/programs/workforce-homebuyer-program.

Goleta Valley Library to Offer Satellite Services in Isla Vista

At its meeting on April 7, 2020, the Goleta City Council approved moving forward with a plan to provide satellite public library services in Isla Vista.  The City of Goleta manages the Goleta Valley Library, which serves as the regional main library for the City of Goleta, Isla Vista, Hope Ranch, unincorporated areas of the Goleta Valley, and the Gaviota Coast.  The satellite services will be made possible through $200,000 in state funding secured by Assemblymember Monique Limón for a pilot program. 

Library Director Allison Gray said, “Without this funding, we would not be in a financial position to offer the wonderful variety of programming we are interested in providing.”

Members of the County Board of Supervisors have long expressed interest in enhancing the satellite services already provided in Isla Vista.  While many Isla Vista residents use the main library, others, particularly those without transportation, find it challenging to access services in the Goleta location.

Under the plan approved by the City Council, the Library will purchase a cargo van with an awning which will be staffed 40 hours per week.  The van will bring a full slate of Goleta Valley Library programming, such as craft programs, reading events, and story times, into the Isla Vista community. The van will also be able to deliver items to Isla Vista that have been placed on hold over the internet, phone, or in person.

Book vending machines and book drops located in various places throughout Isla Vista will make check outs and returns easy.  Ten little libraries, including some serving the Latinx community, will be strategically placed and kept stocked in housing facilities and other locations.  Building on a pilot program already in place, Pop-Up Library devices will allow free downloads of e-books, periodicals, and other materials, with or without a library card.

The Library hopes to begin services in the fall. State funds are expected to keep the services going through March 2022, after which another source of funding would need to be identified to continue them.

The Isla Vista Community Services District will be a key partner in the effort.  Formed by voters in 2016, the Community Services District has offered physical space in their facilities and staff support for community outreach and marketing. 

Ms. Gray said, “We plan to start by offering library services and programming three days a week in a space provided by the Isa Vista Community Services District.” She added, “We will be working with the Community Services District to identify programming that appeals to college students, who make a up large portion of our patrons and potential patrons in this area.”

Pictured: Book vending machine

City of Goleta Receives Two Awards of Merit from APA Central Coast

The City of Goleta is pleased to announce that we received two Awards of Merit from the California American Planning Association’s (APA) Central Coast Section. One Award of Merit is for the Goleta Train Depot Station Area Master Plan, and the Goleta’s Park, Facilities, and Playgrounds Master Plan.

The Goleta Train Depot Master Plan was given the award for the City’s commitment to the continued development of the train depot in regard to climate change, low income-communities, and the enhanced economic impacts. The selection committee added that the Train Depot Master Plan is a helpful document in setting forth the guidelines and policies that will determine the future design of the Goleta Train Depot. Learn more about this project here: https://tinyurl.com/GoletaTrainDepot.

The Park, Facilities, and Playgrounds Master Plan earned the Award of Merit as a good example of how to develop a population-based park level of service while considering equitable distribution and universal access to parks for all transportation modes. The selection committee was impressed with the plan being well structured, easy to understand, and containing strong pictures and illustrations. In addition, the City and consultant’s community outreach, including pop-up outreach efforts, was strong. The draft Parks, Facilities, and Playgrounds Master plan here is available here.

Provide Your Input on Goleta’s Housing and Public Service Needs

Since 2004, the City of Goleta is grateful to be a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) award recipient. These grant funds are intended to help communities accomplish HUD’s overall goals by carrying out a wide range of community development activities directed toward revitalizing neighborhoods, engaging in economic development, and providing important services of benefit to low-income residents, seniors, disabled individuals, and the homeless, in addition to other targeted populations. The CDBG program is principally targeted toward assisting low- and moderate-income persons.

Each year the City prepares an annual plan (Action Plan) which includes one-year goals and objectives, and sets forth funding allocations for activities to be carried out in the program year. The City of Goleta relies on nonprofit organizations to help carry out the goals of its CDBG Program. To allow for this, the City awards grant funds on a competitive basis to organizations that are considered grant subrecipients under the City’s CDBG Program.

The City of Goleta has been awarded $225,537 from HUD for the upcoming 2020-2021 program year, with additional emergency funding to respond to COVID-19 community impacts. The programs and activities being carried out with the regular annual funding are included in the 2020-2021 Action Plan. Community member review of each year’s CDBG Action Plan is essential to the success of Goleta’s CDBG program. Between March 30 and April 29, a draft of next year’s CDBG Action Plan will be available for public review and input. Copies are typically placed at various public locations throughout the city; however, due to facility closures taking place this year, the plan will be available online. City staff will share the digital version through its various outreach tools to ensure it reaches as many residents as possible. The final Action Plan will be submitted to HUD in May.

Citizen participation is at the forefront of the City’s housing and neighborhood services strategies, planning, and implementation. To best serve the community, citizen involvement is vital to assure that activities are well suited to local needs. The CDBG program requires that citizens, particularly persons of low- and moderate-income, minorities, and persons with disabilities, be given an opportunity to participate in an advisory role in the planning and implementation of the CDBG program.

Please visit https://tinyurl.com/GoletaCDBG to review the draft Action Plan and share any comments and input with Dominique Samario at dsamario@cityofgoleta.org or 805-690-5126.

Pictured: Community Development Block Grant recipient.

Goleta Public Works Puts Safety First

The City of Goleta Department of Public Works is taking a number of precautions for their protection and the safety of the community as they continue essential work during this crisis.  Public Works has implemented several policies based on direction from the State of California and the Nation Centers for Disease Control in addition to normal OSHA Guidelines.  In addition to the normal personal protective equipment such as steel toe boots and high visibility vests, the City of Goleta Maintenance Workers are wearing masks at all times and gloves when necessary.

Additionally, the City work trucks have been equipped with hand washing stations.  The Department of Public Works has also established protocols for wiping down equipment with disinfectant wipes when the equipment is used by different Maintenance Workers and at the end of the day.  As a further step, the Department of Public Work has established a second Corporate Yard and have based a second group of Maintenance Workers at that yard.  That group will operate independently and not interact with the Maintenance Workers at the primary Corporate Yard.  Ultimately, in conformance with the State of California Governor’s Orders, the Department of Public Works will continue to perform important maintenance work that addresses Public Safety.  The Maintenance Workers and all Public Works staff will continue to meet all safety regulations with safety being the highest priority.

Goleta Receives Grant to Improve Public Safety Power Shutoff Preparedness

SCE will be continuing critical work for Public Safety Power Shutoffs during the Stay at Home Order and outages may impact Goleta residents and businesses.  SCE will notify impacted residents 7 to 10 days in advance of a scheduled outage. Learn more here.

The City of Goleta has been selected by the California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) to receive funding through its Public Safety Power Shutoffs Resiliency Grant Program. The City will receive $100,945 which will support efforts across multiple departments including Neighborhood Services & Public Safety, Public Works, and Planning and Environmental Review.  The funds will be used for: the hook-up of the City’s generator to the second floor of City Hall; traffic signal backup battery systems for City roads; and consulting costs to determine the viability of solar power and battery energy storage at City facilities.

Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) are a relatively new idea first introduced in the summer of 2019 by utility companies to be able to shut off power when high risk weather could start a wildfire. PSPS have the potential to lead to multi-day power outages in areas during periods of extremely hot, dry, and/or windy weather. A PSPS outage will last as long as the potentially dangerous weather conditions exist, plus the amount of time it takes for power company workers to inspect and repair their equipment in the affected area(s). Learn more Public Safety Power Shutoffs and how you can prepare here.

COVID-19 Information and Resources

The City of Goleta has put together a page on our website dedicated to COVID-19 information and resources (local and national): www.cityofgoleta.org/covid19. The page is being kept updated as new resources and information become available. On the webpage you can find out about City services and closures, as well as updates from other local agencies including MTD, Southern California Edison (SCE), SoCalGas, Cox Communications, and MarBorg. There are also resources for businesses and employees.

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